Constraint Lingo: towards high‐level constraint programming

Logic programming requires that the programmer convert a problem into a set of constraints based on predicates. Choosing the predicates and introducing appropriate constraints can be intricate and error prone. If the problem domain is structured enough, we can let the programmer express the problem in terms of more abstract, higher‐level constraints. A compiler can then convert the higher‐level program into a logic‐programming formalism. The compiler writer can experiment with alternative low‐level representations of the higher‐level constraints in order to achieve a high‐quality translation. The programmer can then take advantage of both a reduction in complexity and an improvement in runtime speed for all problems within the domain. We apply this analysis to the domain of tabular constraint‐satisfaction problems. Examples of such problems include logic puzzles solvable on a hatch grid and combinatorial problems such as graph coloring and independent sets. The proper abstractions for these problems are rows, columns, entries, and their interactions. We present a higher‐level language, Constraint Lingo, dedicated to problems in this domain. We also describe how we translate programs from Constraint Lingo into lower‐level logic formalisms such as the logic of propositional schemata. These translations require that we choose among competing lower‐level representations in order to produce efficient results. The overall effectiveness of our approach depends on the appropriateness of Constraint Lingo, our ability to translate Constraint Lingo programs into high‐quality representations in logic formalisms, and the efficiency with which logic engines can compute answer sets. We comment on our computational experience with these tools in solving both graph problems and logic puzzles. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Wireless link prediction and triggering using modified Ornstein–Uhlenbeck jump diffusion process

Through time domain observation, typical wireless signal strength values seems to exhibit some forms of mean-reverting and discontinuous “jumps” behaviour. Motivated by this fact, we propose a wireless link prediction and triggering (LPT) technique using a modified mean-reverting Ornstein–Uhlenbeck (OU) jump diffusion process. The proposed technique which we refer as OU-LPT is an integral component of wireless mesh network monitoring system developed by ICT FP7 CARrier grade wireless MEsh Network project. In particular, we demonstrate how this technique can be applied in the context of wireless mesh networks to support link switching or handover in the event of predicted link degradation or failure. The proposed technique has also been implemented and evaluated in a real-time experimental testbed. The results show that OU-LPT technique can significantly enhance the reliability of wireless links by reducing the rate of false triggers compared to a conventional linear prediction technique and therefore offers a new direction on how wireless link prediction, triggering and switching process can be conducted in the future.     

Existence of optimal solutions of two-directionally continuous linear repetitive processes

In the paper, an existence theorem for a Lagrange optimal control problem connected with a two-directionally continuous variant of a linear autonomous repetitive process is derived. As a corollary, existence of an optimal solution in the case of cost functional depending on a fixed ??end-function?? is obtained.     

New friction welding technology for joining tubes with lids

The article presents the results of research on the use of the new technology of friction welding with a non-wearing tool for welding pipe ends with lids. The pipes and lids were made of aluminium alloy EN AW 2017A, non-weldable by conventional methods. The aim of the study was to verify the possibility of welding the lid to the pipe using the FSW method as well as a new method with a tool with specially profiled friction surface. The article presents the results of structural tests and strength tests of the weld joints obtained using the new technique.     

Quasilinearized Regression

Estimation in nonlinear regression usually requires a considerable amount of computational work. If it is possible to linearize the original formulas, the linear regression is sometimes applied to transformed linear relations. The method of quasilinearized regression (first order approximation of nonlinear regression), comparable to linear regression, with respect to computational effort, is described in this paper. This method gives substantially better results than linear regression of linearized formula.     

The Effect of Implanted Al and/or Y on the Scale Formation on Low-Al Fe20Cr2Al Alloy

The very early stages of the oxidation of an Fe20Cr2Al alloy, unmodified and ion-implanted by aluminium, yttrium and a combination of both elements, Al and Y, were studied at 1100 °C in oxygen using two-stage-oxidation exposures with ¹⁸O₂ as a tracer and subsequent characterisation of the scales using SIMS analyses of distribution of oxygen isotopes and oxide-related negative ion clusters, SEM observations of the surface morphology and photoluminescence spectroscopy analysis of the phase composition. The scales formed in all cases, except for the Al-implanted alloy, exhibited layered structures, with the outer part comprising Fe- and Cr-rich oxide, and the inner part being Al₂O₃, which grew due to a mixed outward–inward mechanism . The alumina sub-layers contained the transient oxides and α-Al₂O₃. Implanted Al significantly affected the mechanism of the scale growth, providing that the scale consisted essentially of α-Al₂O₃, and grew via a mixed inward-outward mechanism typical for scales on alumina formers.     

Practical assessment of the nature of business processes

Information Systems and e-Business Management - The aim of the article is to present a framework enabling the quick and practical assessment of the nature of business processes, necessary to select...     

Power system stability enhancement by WAMS-based supplementary control of multi-terminal HVDC networks

This paper deals with supplementary control of a MTDC network designed for the stability enhancement of a AC power system. The proposed control is a WAMS-based control modulating the real and reactive power at the terminals of the DC network. Relevant control formulas have been derived for a linear multi-machine system model with the application of the direct Lyapunov method. Validity and robustness of the proposed control has been verified by computer simulation for a multi-machine test system using a nonlinear model and detailed modeling of power system components. The proposed control is robust and insensitive to changes in the network configuration and loading conditions in the AC power system. In the case, when more of the MTDC networks and/or the HVDC links are used in one interconnected power system the proposed stabilizing control produces additive damping i.e. each controlled network element contributes to the positive damping. Some practical aspects have also been discussed. The proposed WAMS-based stabilizing control of the MTDC network is innovative by both its main concept and the derivation of control formulas using the direct Lyapunov method.